DFA repatriates over 277K distressed OFWs since pandemic

Since February, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated over 277,000 distressed overseas Filipinos due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In November alone, the DFA brought back nearly 40,000 Filipinos from various regions affected by COVID-19.

The majority came from the Middle East (34,312), followed by Asia and the Pacific (3,310), Europe (2,316), Africa (10), and North America (9).

Additionally, three chartered flights were organized to bring home 460 stranded Filipinos from China, Saudi Arabia, and Timor Leste.

The DFA also repatriated 21 Filipinos with serious illnesses from Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Cuba, Italy, Kuwait, Laos, Oman, and Pakistan.